Flexible connection for boilers



Dec. 1924- 1,517,344

' L. w. CRAFT ET 'AL FLEXIBLE CONNECTION FOR BOILERS Filed June 27, 192?. 2 Shuts-Shoet- J/(.@ 2 J/ L 9- I a 4 Z WITNESSES 1 l K L W Cvafi 7 Q! I J. EQIBQSSQH,

Afro/Mrs Dec; 2, 1924.

L. w. CRAFT ET AL FLEXIBLE CONNECTION FOR BOILERS Filed June 27, 1922 2 Shoots-Shoot 2 LNV. Craft N 31 Alt/Emma J. 111511135424;

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITE sTATssrA'rsNr series.

LEWIS W. CRAFT AND JAMES H. BASSETT, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

FLEXIBLE CONNECTION FOR BOILERS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, LEWIS lV. Guaraand J AMES H. Bassnrr, citizens of the United States, and residents of Kansas City, in the county of W' andotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Flexible Connections for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is a. flexible connection for steam boilers of the type of construction adapted for use in locomotive steam engines,

and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of our inventionis to provide means for coupling together two divergent fluid conducting elements of a boiler or the like in such. manner as to establish communication and. a fluid tight joint between the elements while at the same time permitting limited relative movement of the connected together-parts of the two elements to allow for contraction and expansion resulting from thermal changes, or other causes.

More particularly, our invention has for an object thereof the provision of means for connecting to the walls of the water space of a boiler the neck or throat portion of a so-called siphon conducting element which extends through the upper partof the fire box of the boiler and establishes communication between upper and lower parts of whereby the siphon c-onduct-ing element is permitted to expand or contract at its lower end or move slightly in respect to the fixed wall of the boiler without breaking the connection or causing leakage at the joints.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, and

the novel features of the invent-ion will be particularly outlined in the appended claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the acconr panying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a view mainly in side elevation with portions of the structure broken away, showing more .or less diagrammatr cally a portion of a locomotive boiler equipped with our invention,

Application filed June 27, 1922.

the water space of the boiler,.

Serial No. 571,197.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in the preceding views,-

Figure 4 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, and

Figure 5 is astill further enlarged tragmentary sectional view, illustrating the means torconnecting one side otthe neck of a siphon element best seen in Figure 3 to the proximate wall of the boiler structure. i l v In Figure l, we show a fragmentary portion oi a locomotive steam boiler of ordinary construction, including an outer shell 1, a crown sheet 2' and substantially vertical walls 3 cooperating with the shell and with the crown sheet to provide interiorly of the shell a water space-l and a combus tion chamber or fire box 5. The substantiah lyvert-ical side walls 8 have lower portions, I

boiler is in open comnuuiication. The water space is shown as extending above the combustion chamber or fire box 5 as well as at the sides thereof, as is usual.

In order to provide for circulation of: the water within the water space of the boiler and to insure movement of the water contents across the crown sheet 2, conducting means extending through the upper part of the combustion chamber and establishing communication between the part of the water space above the crown sheet and a lower part oi the water space are ordinarily provided. A so-called siphon conducting element is in general use for establishing communication bet-ween upper and lower parts of the water space of locomotive boilers and in the drawings we illustrate one form of conducting element at 7, which con ducting element has the general form and appearance of a so-called siphon conducting element, such as in common use. 7

The conducting connector 7 comprisesfla relatively reducedor tubular portion 8 and walls lying in vertical planes.

an expanded or relatively large portion or body 9. Prior to our invention, the conducting connector 7 was arranged to extend to the upper part of the tire box or the combustion chamber with the body 9 opening through the crown sheet 2 into communication with the water space i above the crown sheet and the relatively reduced or neck portion 8 was arraiiged to open through the tire box wall into Ol111ll1ll1l0 tion with a lower part of the ater space and being rigidly attached to the tire box wall in order to provide a liquid tight joint between the neck 8 and the tire box wall. The construction just described has been found unsatisfactory .in practice because ot the cracking or rupture of the neck portion 8 or the impairment of the oint between the neck portion 8 and the tire box wall. such cracking and impairment of the conducting connector and of the joint of the latter with the fire box wall probably being occasioned by unequal expansion and contraction ot the connected together parts in response to frequently occurring and relatively great thermal changes.

Our invention provides means whereby the'neck portion 8 is connected by a fluid tight jointin communication with a lower part of the water space -fl and at the san'ie time is permitted to expand and contract with more or less freedom within limits thereby obviating the in'ipairment ot the joint or conducting connector, in service. In Figure 2 we show by way ot example a plurality of the conducting connectors '7. each being in open communication at its upper end with the water space a above the crown sheet .2, the connection between the walls of the conducting connector '7 and the crown sheet being rigid and being formed or provided in any suitable known manner. The conducting connectors '7 extend through the upper part of the tire box so that the longitudinal. axes thereof are downwardly inclined and the lower end portions of the necks 8 are received in tubular passages extending transversely through a water leg (5 or other lower portion of the water space a, being out of communication with the space. The necks are substantially elliptical in cross sectional area at their extremities with the major axis of the elliptical The tubular passages 10 conform substantiallv in cross sectional contour to the necks 8 lit the extremities of the latter. Each of the necks 8 is closed at its extremity by an end or cap plate 11 which maybe formed integrally therewith or separately and pern'ianently attached to the walls of the neck in any suitable manner. A drain or cleanout opening through the end or cap plate 11 is normally closed 1 a plug 12.

It is to be observed at this point that the area of the tubular passage 10 is considerably greater than that of the portion oi the neck 8 disposed therein. Aligned openings are formed through the side portions of each nccc 8 extending within one of the tubular passages 11 and from the openings 13 extend short tubes or nipples 14:. Each of the nipples 1+1 is provided with a flange 15 at its inner end in abutting re lation to the portion of the inner wall of the neck 8 surroumling the opening 13 and the flange 15 and the portion of the nipple 14: extending through the opening 13 may be permanently secured to the walls of the neck 8 in such manner as to provide a fluid tight oint. Each of the nipples 14 is adapted for axial alignment with and close abutting relation to a coo1: ei.'ating nipple 16 which extends toward the neck 8 from an opening 17 in the proximate portion of the walls of the tubular passage 10. Each nipple 1G is provided with a flange 18 at the end thereof extending into the water space, which flange is in contiguous relation to the inner side of the wall of the passage 10 and is secured to the latter in any suitable manner to provide a. liquid tight fit between the nipple 16 and the walls of the passage 10. i i

The cooperating nipples it and '16 are equal diametrically and are provided at their meeting ends with abutting flanges 19 and 20 respectively. The nipple l4 and the nipple 16 of each, pair of the nipples just described are releasably connected together in axial alignment with respect to each other by clamp means comprising av clamping ring 21 which is shown as con sisting of two complementary semi-annular sections, each provided with pairs of cooperating radial ear or lug extensions 22252 atthe meeting ends thereof. The ears or lug extensions of each pair are provided with aligned bolt receiving apertures through which bolts 23 may be projected and nuts 24 screwed thereon to secure the sections of the clamping ring together. Obviously each clamping ring 21 may consist of a greater number of arcuate segmen tal sections than we have illustrated in the accon'ipa-nying drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. the respective sections of each ring being secured to one another in the manner described.

Each of the sections of the clamping ring 21 is provided with a groove extending in its inner wall the entire length of the section. whereby the clamping ring made up of the several sections has an annular groove in its inner periphery. The bottom wall of the groove 25 has a width slightly greater than the/distance across the outer edges of the flanges i9 and 20 at the meeting ends of each pair of nipples 1-1 and 16. The inner ion lit

be of any suitable compressible material,

such as babbitt or any suitable packing metal, and which is adaptedto be compressed about the abutting flanged ends of the nipples 14 and 16 of one of the pairs of nipples to prevent leakage between the connected together nipples when the ring encircling the same is tightened, as by adjusting the relation of the sections of the clamping ring inrespect to one another.

From the foregoing description of the yin rious parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. W'ith 'heorganization described, water or other liquid may pass from the water space 4t and the water leg 6 through the pairs of coir nected together nipples 15 and 1.6 .into the tubular portion or neck 8 of each conducting connector 7 and thence into the portion of the water space located above the crown sheet 2. The provision of a ring of compressible material encompassing the meeting ends of the nipples of each pair and being held in intimate contact with. the nipples at their meeting ends by an outer clamping ring provides a fluid tight joint between the meeting ends of the nipples of eachlpair while permitting limited relative movement of the nipples of each pair because of ex pansion or contraction occasioned by thermal changes, vibrations communicated thereto from the boiler body, or for any other cause. The conducting connectors 7 are therefore supported adjacent to the extremities of the necks thereof so that. continuous communication is obtained between the end portions of their necks and circumscribing portions of a compartment for a liquid, whereby each element 7 serves as a portion of a circulatory system for the liquid in the boiler.

In the event that a leak should occur between the connected together nipples 14 and 16 and the outer packing or clamp 21, the sections of the latter may be adjusted to com press the inner packing ring 25 additionally to stop the leak or further packing material may be interposed between the ring 21 and the connected together nipples. The abutting faces of the nipples of each pair are ground to contact smoothly at all points thereon.

Obviously, our invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and we therefore consider as our own all modifications of the form of the device illustrated herein, which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. In combination, a compartment adapted to receive liquid and having a tubular passage extending therethrough, a tubular conduit extending into said tubular passage, the cross sectional area of said tubular conduit being less than that of said tubular passage, and liquid conducting means establishing communication between said compartment and the interior of said tubular conduit and connecting said tubular conduit to said tubular passage, said liquid conducting means comprising two pairs of flexibly connected together aligned sections so that the tubular conduit may have limited movement relatively to the tubular passage. 1

2. In combination, an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member extending into the outer tubular member and being of less outer diameter than the inner diameter of the outer tubular member, and a pair of conducting connectors communicating with the interior of the inner tubular member and extending oppositely from the inner tubular member through the walls of the outer tubular member, each of said connectors connarising a plurality of flexibly connected together aligned sections and said conducting connectors holding the inner and outer tubular members in spaced relation and permitting relative movement of the inner and outer tubular members. i

In combination, an outer tubular memher, an inner tubular member extending into the outer tubular member and being of less outer diameter than the inner diameter of the outer tubular member, and a pair of conducting connectors communicating with the interior of the inner tubular member and extending oppositely from the inner tubular member through the walls of the outer tubular member, each of said connectors comprising a plurality of flexibly connected together aligned sections and said conducting connectors holding the inner and outer tubular members in spaced relation and en gaging with the walls of the inner and outer tubular members in such manner as to have liquid tight contact therewith and to permit relative oscillatory movement of the inner and outer tubular members about the axis of the conducting connectors.

4:. In combination, two tubular members. one extending within the other and being of less outer diameter than, the inner diameter of the other. the inner tubular member having two diametrically opposite openings through its walls and the outer tubular member having diametrically opposite openings through its walls in alinement with the 'ibly connecting and first named opel'iings, and pairs of alined nipples extending oppositely from the inner tubular member for connecting the inner tubular member with the outer tubular member, the inner nipple of each pair extending through one of the openings of the inner tubular member and having a flange at its inner end in engagement with the inner-Wall of the inner tubular member, the outernipple of each pair extending through one of the openings of the outer tubular member and having a flange at its outer end in engagement with the outer Wall of the outer tubular member, and means flexproviding a fluid tight joint between the nipples of each pair at their adjacent ends.

5. In combination,

two tubular members, one extending Within the other and being of less outer diameter than the inner diameter of the other, the inner tubular memher having two diametrically opposite openings through its Walls and the outer tubular member having diametrically opposite openings through its Walls in alignment with the first named openings, and pairs of alined nipples extending oppositely from the inner tubular member for connecting the innen nipple of eachpair extending through one of the openings of the outer tubular member and having a flange at its outer end in engagement with the outer Wall of the outer tubular member, the'nipples of each pair having cooperative flanges at their adjacent ends, compressible packing, means encompassing the flanges at the adjacent ends of the nipples. ot' each pair, and clamping means. encompassing the packing means and compressing the packing against the peripheral 'wallsand the remote ends of said last named flanges, as and forthe purpose described.

' LEVIS \V. C-RAF'JI. JAS. H. BASSETT. 

